Folding mechanism for printing-machines.



C A. KELLOGG.

FOLDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23.1913.

1,164,819. I Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

l/VVE/IITOR CarZAJf ZZo C. A. KELLOGG.

FOLDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1913.

1,164,81 9. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 0a "ZAliUO UNITED s'ra rns PATENT orrion.

can]: A. KELLOGG, or new YORK, n. Y.

FOLDING MECHANISM Eon PRINEIITG-MACHINES.

Specification of. Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Original application filed July 16, 1906, Serial No. 326,411., Divided and this application filed May 23,

1913. Serial No. 769,386.

To all whom it may concern Belit known that I, CARL A. KELLooo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Mechanisms for Printing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of folding mechanisms which are particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with web printing machines and for severing sheets from the printed web andfolding them for presentation to. a delivery mechanism, and of which the device shown and claimed in my copending patent application Serial No. 326,411, filedJuly16, 1906, is a type; and theobject of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this general character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and of a compact, strong and durable construction not liable to become deranged or broken duringuse and capableof operation at high speed, wherein the folding device and actuating means therefor are so constructed and arranged as to avoid interference with the travel of the web or of sheets cut therefrom, and to insure accurate folding of such sheets.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction,-and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improved cutting. and folding mechanism, whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the mechanism is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order thatv my improvements may be the better understood, I will now proceed todescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown one embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken axially through one end of the carrying cylinder of a cutting and folding mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, supporting devices beingshown' in elevation; Fig. 2- 's a sectional view taken transversely through the mechanism at one end a well known way, I the web to the carrying cylinder after each the striker blades and their of the carrying cylinder, showing the latter together with its companion cutting cylinder and the striker actuating means in elevation; Fig. 3is a sectional view taken transversely through the carrying cylinder showing the arrangement of the cutting and folding devices; and Fig. 4; is a diagraphic view illustrating the operation of the folding devices.

As shown in these views, 1 represents the main carrying cylinder of the improved cutting and folding mechanism provided with a'peripheral surface. whereon the web w is adapted to be received from the printing,

machine, and having bosses 2, 2 at its opposite ends, said cylinder being keyed or otherwise held upon a shaft 3 passed axially through the open interior of the cylinder with its opposite ends projected beyond the ends or heads thereof and journaledin bearings: 4, 4,-which may be produced conveniently upon the frame of the printing machine in connection with which the improved cutting and folding mechanism is applied for use. p

5 represents a gear wheel upon one end of the shaft 8 whereby movement may be imparted to said shaft for operatingthe mechanism from any suitablemoving part which purpose said cutting cylinder has a knife 6 which in the rotation of the parts cooperates with diametrically opposite cut ting blocks 6", 6 upon the carrying cylinder so as to penetrate theweb m as the same passes between the cylinders 1 and 6. The carrying cylinder is also provided with pins 1, 1 adjacent to the cutting blocks adapted to be thrown out and retracted in so as to hold the end of operation of the knife 6*, until another sheet is severed therefrom and positioned ready to be operated on by the folding devices.

7, 7 represent folding rolls arranged to receive and fold within their bight the sheets successively severed from the web by the cutting devices; and since in the con- L struction herein shown, each sheet severed from the Web isequal in length to substantially one half the circumference of the carrying cylinder, it will be apparentthat for effective operation, of the .mechanism the folding rolls should be positioned substan-y, tially quartering with respect to the cutting cylinder in order that the sheet may be sev prior to the 5 ered by the latter from the Web operation of thefolding devices. 1

16 represents an internal gear member which is held stationary upon the frame at oneen d of the main carryingcylinder With its internal gear surface meshing Withthe teeth of pinions "11, 11, upon the ends of striker shafts-12,-12,- which are extended lengthwise through the cylinder 1 at: diametrically opposite sides thereof, and are capable of free rotatory movement due to the eng'agement'of the pinions with the teeth of the internal gear during the rotaa tion of sai'cl cy linderf 1' of which said rods or shafts 12, 12 partake, byreasonof their engagement in bearings which are afforded by radial slots 17 17 produced in the ends 'or heads of said-'main'cylinder 1. The internal gear '16 18 positioned eccentrically frvith relation to the-ro-tative axis of the main carrying cylinder 1, and 18 represents acam also held stationary upon the frame and provided W th an eccentric! peripheral" suri face whichconforms With the eccentric] gear surface ofjthe' internal gear'16,'.and With 7 which are engaged rollers orbearers19 held upon the rods or shafts 12, 12, 'the'construc- .tion and arrangement of the parts being such that throughout the rotatory movement 1 of the cylinder 1, the shafts or rods 12, 12

T are continuously rotated'fabout' their: re-

the shaft 3.

T specti-ve axes' vvhile partaking of the rota the said cylinder 1 about tory movement of 13, 13 represents strike'r or tucker blades ivhich are secured upon the respective v striker or-tucke'r shafts or rods 12, 12, and

are adapted, during the rotation of such "shafts, to be projected through openings 14,

lproduced at diametrically opposite points inthe circumferential Wall of said cylinder 1, so as to be operable to insert the sheetcar- 'riedby the latter Within the "bight of the folder-rolls 7,7, to be folded,iand since said shafts or rods 12, 12are'positioned substan-;- tially-inidway betweenthe cutting blocks 6*, 6 it wvill'be'apparent that the strikers, When projected -through; the openings 14, 14, Will be'engaged with the middle of the sheet so [as to produce a central fold therein. I have hereinshovvnthe carrier provided" With two striker shafts and blades, diametrically opposite to each other, and With a peripheral surface Whose. circumference is equal to twice-the length of one of the'sheets tobecut from the Web and folded, and in practice "it is substantially essential to the operativeness ofa folding mechanism confore a sheet could'be severed and released to the folding rolls and,the,web would hang the parts, as in" my said Too-pending patent- 1 application,the shafts or rods 12, 12 wherein I the striker blades 13 are carried are continuturning movement of" the carrying cylinder,

with the employment of cams or] like de- Y'to operate the improvedrcutting and fold indicated 7 in Fig. ,4, Where it Iivill be seen of the cylinder '1 except at the points band 'neXt preceding itsarrival in cooperativere lationoto the. folding rolls, so that substa'nf tially three-fourths'of the perimeter of saidfl structed according to my invention that the 7 carrier be provided With tWo or morestriker shafts and blades, and that thelcircumfen' ence of such carrier be equal to the length 1 70.

of a corresponding number of the sheets, since the printed Web cannot pass continu I ously'to the periphery of the carrier'unless its circumference equals the length of one v i or moreof the sheets, and if its circumference equalsjthe' length of a single sheet only, adequate provision cannot be madefor the operation of the cutting'bl'ade' or knife .6, and sheet retaining pins 14. "As the carrier would then have to make a completezrevolution beloose because freed by both the cutting'and' retaining means at onerand the same time.

By lllllSwCOIlSllItlClZlOh and arrangement of o-usl y and uniformly rotated thr'oughoutthe so that I am enabled to dispens'e-,'altogether vices for. tripping the stril'rershafts for the projection of the blades, such as "havebeen customarily employedin mechanisms of this general cla'ss'heretofore n use, and the liab'i lity 0-1" breakage-or derangement of the mechanismdue to'the shock andv stress "im-' posed upon the parts by the operation of '1 such cams being eliminated, I amenabled ing mechanism at speeds much greater; than has heretofore been possible.

The employment of the eccentric internal rolls ,7, "7' so a's'to insure a more secure insertion of the folded sheet between the rolls," and at thesame time this arrangement of the parts permits the folding blades to be com-I pletely housed and inclosed Within the cylinderuthroughoutthe greater part of their eter of the-"cylinder" 1 in" advance of the folding rolls is absolutely avoided. This'is;

that the lii'ie'a, Whichrepresentsthe path traversed by the extremities of the blades ;v

13,118 is contained Within the internal cavity 0, andv the striker blade is, consequently 'in-" close'd'iwithin the carrier during two com plete and consecutive rotations I of its shaft :travel,'so that interference-WiththeWeb or sheets cutvtherefrom, traversing the perim-- I carrier may be traversed by the web, or sheets cut therefrom without liability of being interfered with by the striker blade.

In the structure herein shown, the striker shafts are capable of a certain extent of radial movement toward and fromthe periphery of the carrier 1, and it will be obvious that during the operation of the mechanism at the high speed-which it is possible to attain, centrifugal force is generated sufficient to tend to throw said shafts outward to an excessive extent such as might interfere with the reliable operation of the parts but in the construction shown, this tendency to excessive outward movement of the striker shafts is overcome during the greater portion of the revolution of the carrier 1 by the internal gear 16which confines the pinions upon the striker shafts and effectually prevents such excessive outwardmovement, aided by the rollers 19, which bear upon the periphery of the cam 18 oppositely'to the internal gear engaged by the pinions. It is understood that, in order to keep the pinio-ns 11 of the-strikerbla'de shafts 12 properly in mesh with the internal gear 16, the axes of these pinions and shafts must be maintained at constant'distances from the pitch line of the internal gear. As the centers of the cylindric, rotary sheet-carrier and of the downwardly-extended internal gear beyond the end thereof do not coincide, and consequently the circumference of'the former is at variance with the pitch line of the latter, .it follows that the blade shafts mounted in thecarrier could'not travel therewith in a true circle and at the same time be kept at the fixeddistance required. The shaft-bearings 17 are therefore elongated, that the shafts may have a radial movement alter nately lnward and outward and thus enable the pinions thereon to move with the pitch line of the internal gear in and out relatively to the carriers line of rotation. Meanwhile, the cam 18, made to. conform in contour with the internal gear 16, causes the rollers 19traveling around its periphery to'act directly and positively upon the shafts 12 and thereby cooperate in discharging the threefold function of keeping the pinions permanently in engagement with the internal gear, controlling the radial thrust of the blade shafts, and counteracting'the centrifugal force to which these shafts are subjected.

The improved cutting and folding mechanism constructed according to my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature, and is particularly well adapted for use in connection with such prlnting machines as may be advantageously operated at high speeds, since the stress upon the parts is minimized or equalized in such a manner as to lessen very greatly the liabihty of breakage or derangement, and the eccentric arrangement of the striker actuating means operates not merely to insure a more reliable delivery of the sheets to the folding rolls, but also insures against liability of interference of the blades with the sheets during their travel upon the carrier,

and it will also be obvious from the above description of my improvements that the mechanism is susceptible of some modification without material departure from the principles andspirit of the invention, as de- Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- I cut is 1. A mechanism of the character described having a rotary carrier, a plurality of blade shafts mounted upon the carrier and sup ported for movement toward and from the periphery of the carrier during "rotation thereof, folding blades upon the shafts, gears on theshafts, an internal gear eccentrically mounted with respect to the center ofr'otation of the carrier and meshing with the gears on the blade shafts, a member having abearing surface fixed. with relation to said internal gear, and bearer disks mounted on the blade shafts and traveling upon said bearing surface. 7

2. A web-folding machine having in combination a rotary carrier having radially slotted ends, blade shafts radially movable in said slots, means for continuously rotating said shafts, bearer disks on said shafts and a fixed cam surface coiiperating with said disks to position said shafts.

3. A mechanism of the character described having a rotary carrier, a plurality of blade shafts mounted upon the carrier and supported for movement toward and from the periphery of the carrier during rotation thereof, folding blades upon the shafts, gears on the shafts, an internal gear eccentrically mounted with respectto the center of rotation of the carrier and meshing with the gears on the blade shafts, a bearing surface corresponding in conformation with said internal gear, and bearer disks mounted on the blade shafts and traveling upon said bearing surface.

4:. A mechanism of the character described having cutting means, folding rolls, a driven ment toward the periphery of the carrier, 1 "and adapted, when so moved, tOPIOJGCt the strikerblade from the carrier in position to fold I the sheets between the folding rolls, -,a' v fixed cam, rollers onthe shafts riding arQ ll d the cams periphery, and a single means for imparting rotatorymovement to the striker shafts continuously during the, rotatory 1 movement of the carrier, including pinions upon the respective striker shafts, and an nternal gear meshing with each pinion and v positioned eccentricallywith respect to the center of rotation of the carrierito-permit movement of; the striker shaft toward the periphery of v said carrier.

7 5. The combination ofcutting means, folding rolls, adrivencarrier provided with a peripheral web-receiving surface, anam- 'pable of rotatory movement to transport sheets severed from aweb by the cutting; means to said folding rolls, a rotatory vstriker shaft supported, upon thecarrier,

i ing directly with an end of thestriker shaft,

operable to move the same toward'fthe peprovided'with a striker blade, and capable of'movement toward the. periphery of said carrier, and adapted, when sogmoved, to projectthe striker blade from'thecarrier in position to fold sheets between the folding rolls, means ..'operable to rotate the striker shaftcontinuously during the rotatory movement ofthe carrier, and a device, cooperatriphery ofthe carrier. a

6. A folding mechanism comprising cutting means, ,folding rolls, a 'driven carrier fprovidedWith a peripheralsurface tore- 1 ceive a web, a'plurality of rotatory shafts supported upon the'carrier, each'provided 7 periodicallyoutwardly to projectthe striker with a striker blade and capable of-subs tantially'radialmovement in said-carrier, a single means "for umoving each ofuthe shafts blades successively from the carrier, and a 1 single means for imparting continuous, rotatory movement to all of the shafts during the rotation of the carriensaid latter means being effective tocontrol and limit the outward movement Oftlieshafts whenever said sliaftsare inwardly removed fron their folding-ofl positions.-

- ,(x. A folding mechanism comprisingcut ting means, folding rolls, a driven carrier provided with .a: peripheral surface to receivea" web, aplurality of rotatory shafts supported upon the carrier each provided with a striker blade and capable of substantially radial'movement in said carrier, a single fixed means for moving 'each' of the shafts periodically toward the periphery of the carrier, and a single means for directly imparting continuous rotatory movement to all of the shafts during the-rotationof the carrier, said means comprising. pinions upon the shafts and av fixed gear positioned eccentric'ally with respect to the "carrier and-concontinuously meshing -gearh g I I ,7 :10. A mechanism of the, character described having, in combination, a; driven rotatablecarrier provided with a. peripheral" withinjthe peripheryof the carrier Mm ea s tinu'ously meshing with said pinions, said gear and pinions cooperatingwith said fixed 7 means; to. determine the radial position ,7 of

said shafts during, substantial portions of each revolution. r x j 84-A fold1ng mechanism comprising cutting means, folding rolls, a driven :carrier having. a peripheral surface to receive a web,.a.1;ilura1ity Off rotatory shafts movable in substantially radial slots in the: carrier,

eachprovided with a'striker blade and mov-.

able radially in said carrieig and, means for actuating and controlling all of said shafts,

said means including apinion upon each;

shaft, a fixed internal gear meshing with each pinion and posit oned eccentric'ally,

with respect tothe carrier, a cam conform-- ing in contour with saidgear and rollers on :said shafts engaging the periphery of said cam; I v .9. A folding mechanism comprising a rotary carrier, a fixed internal gear ad acent said carrier at oneend thereof, a fixed bearing surface adjacent'to and conforming in contour with said internal gear, a shaftfhav- 'ing a; striker blade and journaled' in' said carrier, a roller on saidshaft engaging said beariiiglsurfaceand a]p i nioii on saidshaft adjacent and concentric Withsaid roller and with. ,said' internal surface adapted to v receive a web, folding rolls coacting with said carrier, cutting mechanism operable upon a ;web carried by jsaidcarriensaid carrier bei'ngequal incirc fcumference to the length of a pluralityof 1 1 the sheets severed from such web by the cut ting, means andbeing capable of rotatory movement to transport to said folding rolls sheets; severed from such Webtby, the cutting means, a plurality of rotatory striker shafts supported upon the carrier and coacting withsaid folding rolls, saidf shafts being each provided with a striker blade and besaid striker. shafts during the rotation of the carrier, said means including pinions upon the respective striker shafts and a and positioned eccentrically with a respect to the center of rotation of the carrier, thereby permitting intermittent movement of the corresponding striker shaft towardthepee riphery-of said carrier said, means being also operable to retain eachstrikerblade during its travel past the cutting means.

11., A folding mechanism having cutting fixed internal gearimeshing with said pinion rier, capable of movement toward and from means, coacting folding rolls, a driven rotative carrier provided with a peripheral surface adapted'to receive a web, equal in circumference to the length of a plurality of the sheets severed from said web by the cutting means and capable of rotatory movement to transport sheets severed from the web by the cutting means to position for delivery to the folding rolls, a plurality of rotatory striker shafts supported by thecarits rotative axis, and'provided-with striker bladesadapted When said shafts are moved outwardly opposite to the folding rolls, to fold off the successive sheets from the carrier between said folding rolls, and means for imparting rotatory movement to the during the rotatory movement of the carrier, including pinions upon the respective striker shafts and an internal gear meshing with each pinion and positioned eccentrically with respect to the rotative axis of the carrier to permit movement of the corresponding striker shaft toward the periphery of the carrier, said means being also operable to retain each striker blade within the carrier during its travel past the cutting means and to project the respective strikers successively from the carrier at the same point in its rotation opposite to said folding rolls to deliver the sheets thereto.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CARL A KELLOGG.

\Vitnesses W. E. LAWSON,

J. D. GAPLINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

